As you all know by now that I absolutely love creating authentic and fusion Indian recipes but without spending hours in the kitchen. I am a mom, businesswoman, and love the outdoors. As we are heading into fall and with kids going back to school, I want to bring some semi-homemade recipes your way. This will save you time in the kitchen without compromising the taste or flavors and leave you in control of the ingredients.

For my Paneer Pizza with cauliflower crust recipe, I spent a lot of time experimenting with different crusts and flavors, and finally came up with a winner! This recipe is vegetarian, gluten-free, plant-based, and absolutely delicious! Refer to my tips below on how to achieve a perfect pizza!

I prepare my Paneer Pizza with cauliflower crust by using a store-bought cauliflower pizza crust, Rao’s pizza sauce, and Nanak’s fried paneer. I mix the cheese (I am using sharp cheddar and mozzarella) with Italian seasoning, salt, and crushed black pepper and a tiny amount of red pepper flakes for a little kick). Toppings are a personal choice but I use green bell peppers, sweetcorn, Vidalia onions, and of course the star of the show, Nanak’s Fried Paneer. Once the pizza is done, I top it with some Kasuri methi and chaat masala and cilantro and mint chutney. You can use a store-bought chutney or learn how to make it here.

What is Paneer and is it Gluten-Free?

Paneer is Indian cottage cheese and is 100 percent Gluten-Free as long as it is not coated with besan (chickpea flour) or any other flour. We make it by boiling milk and curdling it with an acidic ingredient like vinegar or lemon juice. The cheese is soft but firm and it does not melt. You can make it at home or buy it at Indian Grocery Stores.

What Paneer am I using for this recipe?

You can make your own paneer at home or like me, take the easier route and use Nanak’s fried paneer. This step saves me from cutting and pan-frying the paneer. I have used this cheese many times before and it is definitely a life saver.

If you are not able to find Nanak’s fried paneer, then you can buy the block of paneer of any brand that you like (I recommend Nanak or Gopi), cut it into cubes, and pan-fry it till it is golden brown.

Is cauliflower crust pizza healthy?

The answer to this really depends on what toppings you put on your pizza:) Cauliflower crust is lower in calories, fat, and carbs. If you are looking to add more veggies to your diet or eat gluten-free, then the cauliflower crust pizza is your answer!

Which cauliflower pizza crust am I using for Paneer pizza with cauliflower crust recipe?

My favorite cauliflower pizza crust is from Trader Joe’s. Of course, if you have a favorite of your own, you can use that or you can even make it at home. One of my favorite recipes for making the cauliflower crust pizza at home is by Katie Lee on Food Network.

How do I cook the Pizza?

I am a big fan of cast-iron skillets as well as Le Creuset’s skillets and prefer to cook my pizza on them. You can use a regular oven tray (just be sure to line with parchment paper) or a pizza stone. There is no right or wrong way of doing this. Just use what you have at home.

If you are going to use Trader Joe’s cauliflower pizza crust, you will have to cook the crust for 5-10 minutes on each side till is a beautiful golden brown color. My suggestion is to use a baking rack to cook the crust to ensure even cooking on both sides.

What other pizza crust or dough options are there?

Luckily there are tons of products in the market to help you make a perfect pizza of your choice. Since I wanted to keep this recipe Gluten-Free and convenient, I am using a store-bought cauliflower pizza crust, but you can use any dough or crust of your choice. Trader Joe’s has a good selection of regular and wheat dough and so does Whole Foods.

Can I make a Vegan version of this pizza?

Absolutely! Vegans can substitute the fried Nanak Paneer with sauteed Tofu and use vegan-friendly cheese.

What are some other Paneer Recipes?

I am sharing some of my popular Paneer recipes below:

• Shahi Paneer
• Palak Paneer, Dhaba Style
• Matar Paneer
• Kadai Paneer
• Paneer Bhurji
• Paneer Empanadas